Avoid measles with MMR vaccine

The Minnesota Department of Health recently confirmed a case of measles earlier this month in a 16-month-old child being hospitalized in Dakota County. The child had not had the MMR vaccine and recently returned home from international travel.

The MMR vaccine protects against multiple diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella. When the vaccine is issued fully via two doses it is believed to be 97% effective against measles.

Measles was a disease that was very prevalent in the U.S. before the vaccine was created in 1963. Before the vaccine, an estimated three to four million people got measles each year in the United States.

A total of 58 cases of measles were reported throughout the United States in 2023. Just in December 2023 & January 2024, the CDC confirmed 23 cases of measles. Most of these cases were among children who had not received the MMR vaccine.

The MMR vaccine is recommended to first be administered between 12-15 months of age, with a second dose between 4-6 years old. Adults who believe to have never gotten the vaccine should inquire about it as well.

Minnesota has seen a drop in recent years in eligible children receiving the MMR vaccine. For eligible two-year-olds in 2109 (pre-pandemic) 83.8% of them had received one dose of the MMR vaccine. In 2023, Minnesota had just 78.7% of two-year-olds with at least one dose of the MMR vaccine.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The CDC reports, that measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected.

Symptoms of measles usually develop 10-12 days after exposure and last for 7-10 days. Measles often starts with a fever, other common symptoms include cough, runny nose, and red eyes. Tiny white spots on the inside of the mouth may also appear. A couple of days after initial symptoms then a rash of tiny red spots breaks out. The rash typically starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body.

Other complications that can occur with measles include ear infections, pneumonia, and diarrhea. In rare but severe cases, swelling of the brain can occur and possibly death.

If you need to get updated on vaccinations for yourself or your child, call 320-532-3154 and press one to schedule an appointment with a medical provider.